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Today's reading

December 17, 2024

Picture: Moral Inventory

Isaiah 42:24-25, 44:6, 9-11, 21-23 

12.17_Fearless Moral inventory
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With the exception of a few, the people of Israel were destitute, deprived of dignity and completely reliant of their captors for survival. As they huddled together the song of the victimized would often surface in conversation. As they sat, licking their wounds and casting blame on their enemies, God confronts them with a series of questions that clear up their predicament. 

" Who gave up Jacob to the

         looter,

and Israel to the 

        plunderers?

Was it not the LORD,

         against whom we have

         sinned,

in whose ways they would

         not walk,

and whose law they would 

         not obey?

So he poured on hi the

         heat of his anger

and the might of battle;

it set him on fire all around, 

         but he did not

         understand;

it burned him up, but he

         did not take it to 

         heart."

​

Isaiah 42:24-25 (ESV)

Israel had been placed in humble circumstances, but the marks of true humility are only experienced when we take a fearless moral inventory. Israel was meant to be holy, set apart, different from the pagan nations that surrounded them. Instead, for much of their history they clamored to become like them. They jettisoned theri way of life and incorporated the ways of the world at every turn. There was a marvelous destiny scrawled in future inching its way towards their present, but Israel would need to become a different nation to enjoy it.

​

So God through Isaiah told them that He is the only True God.

"Thus says the LORD, the

         King of Israel

and his Redeemer, the

         LORD of hosts:

'I am the first and I am the

         last;

besides me there is no god.'"

​

Isaiah 444:6 (ESV)

They must truly understand how foolish it is to worship anyone but Him.

      "All who  fashion idols

are nothing, and the things

they delight in do not

profit. Their witnesses

neither see nor know, that

they may be put to shame.

        Who fashions a god or 

casts an idol that is

profitable for nothing?

Behold, all his

companions shall be put to

shame, and the craftsmen

are only human. Let them

all assemble, let them

stand forth. They shall be

terrified; they shall be put

to shame together."

​

Isaiah 44:9-11 (ESV)

Isaiah describes the process of cutting down a tree, building a metal structure and melting silver to fashion an idol. He emphatically states that all of these elements are crude materials that man uses for his purposes. He argues that nothing made by hand could save the hands that made it.

Then finally turning to Israel he pleads,

"Remember these things,

       O Jacob,

and Israel, for you are my

        servant;

I formed you; you are my

        servant;

O Israel, you will not be

        forgotten by me.

I have blotted out your

        transgressions like a 

        cloud

and your sins like mist;

return to me, for I have

        redeemed you.

Sing, O heavens, for the

        LORD has done it;

shout, O depths of the

         earth;

break forth into singing, O

         mountains,

O forest, and every tree in

          it!    

For the LORD has

         redeemed Jacob,

and will be glorified in

         Israel."

​

Isaiah 44:21-23 (ESV)

God has called each person by name, giving them purpose and hope. But, to walk unfettered in this destiny we must reveal the bastions of our hearts and topple the idols that have garnered our affection. The things, people and systems that we sacrifice too, erode our allegiance to God and keep us in desperate captivity. Standing above these lifeless idols is the one True God. He divinely sacrificed himself to ransom our wayward hearts giving us true life. He is mighty to save, worthy of worship and He is waiting for us to follow him.

This is Christmas to you.

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